5. 귀족 행동
“So? What happened?”
“I decided to enter the Imperial Central Academy. I made a bet—if I get into the special class, I succeed. If not, I’ll accept the arranged marriage.”
“Hmm…? Celi, that’s more romantic than I expected?”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing~”
Mariella said with a sly smile.
No, seriously… what part of that was romantic?
While I was still thinking about it, my new personal maid, Yuna, approached us carrying macarons and tea.
“Your tea and desserts are here! Ah—!”
Even though there was nothing there, she tripped over her own feet and fell.
Crash—!
The sound of things shattering echoed. My long-time maid Annette came rushing over.
She helped Yuna up, then bowed her head to me.
“I’m sorry, milady. I’ll bring new macarons and tea.”
“It’s fine.”
Honestly, I was a little annoyed. The tea was one thing, but the macarons were a waste…
Still, I’m a generous person. I could let it slide for a cute rookie maid.
“Instead, call my brother.”
I could just use him in place of the incompetent maid.
By the way… that maid, Yuna. How did she even end up in our household?
She doesn’t seem suited for the job at all.
“I’m so sorry, senior! It’s my fault… I got too nervous…”
“Let’s clean this up first.”
Brown hair. A cute face.
The kind who makes a lot of mistakes that match her appearance.
Her chest… roughly about the size of apples. It’ll probably grow later.
If she didn’t look like that and instead looked like my brother, I probably wouldn’t have forgiven her.
After Yuna and Annette left, some time passed before Cedric appeared.
“Celestia. You called me?”
“I did. Do you know why?”
He looked around to assess the situation.
Mariella sat across from me, with a white table between us, smiling brightly.
“W-what is it? Didn’t I apologize last time?”
“Doesn’t something feel missing?”
“Do you need more people? If it’s something that trivial, don’t call me.”
“No. There’s no macarons or tea.”
“…What?”
“We made a contract, didn’t we? Go bring them.”
“Tch…”
Cedric realized I had called him over something as trivial as macarons and tea, and his face twisted in irritation.
But what could he do? He had signed the contract himself. He was my slave now.
Sure, it was obtained through threats, but still—he signed it to avoid getting his skull smashed.
“What are you doing? You said you’d carry things out with ‘utmost sincerity,’ didn’t you?”
“Fine. I’ll get them.”
Cedric obediently went off to fetch the macarons.
“Celi… sometimes you’re really ruthless.”
“Me? Why?”
“I mean… never mind. He did do something wrong…”
After Cedric left, Mariella said something I couldn’t quite understand.
She sometimes spoke like that.
Maybe it’s just the way women talk… it really is different.
I should probably learn it too.
“So, Celi. Your goal is the special class at the Imperial Central Academy now?”
“That’s right.”
“Can you really afford to be so relaxed? It’s not easy to get into that class.”
“Good question. That’s why I’m starting special training today.”
“Special training?”
“Mari. Have you ever hunted a dragon?”
“A dragon…? Isn’t that just something from fairy tales?”
“No, they exist. They’re not imaginary.”
“How would you know that?”
“There are ways.”
Dragons. In the original story Star-Eyed Blade, they appeared in the mid-to-late stages.
Among them, the “Last Ancient Dragon Caldercion” would later be tamed by the protagonist and become a powerful ally.
When it was revealed the protagonist was the last Dragon Slayer… that was honestly pretty exciting.
That kind of overpowered bloodline trope was predictable, but still satisfying.
Anyway, since this world follows Star-Eyed Blade, dragons do exist.
“So I’m going to hunt a dragon. It’s perfect for training.”
“You… haven’t you read too many fairy tales? Hunt a dragon? Like some hero or prince?”
“Of course. I can do it.”
Of course, I’m not delusional. I don’t know how strong dragons really are yet, and I’m not that strong either.
But if this world follows the original, then the more monsters I hunt, the stronger I’ll become.
More precisely, gaining “experience” makes you stronger one way or another.
Hunting monsters, learning under a great teacher, constant sparring… basically, if you fight like a madman, you grow quickly.
It’s practically a system made for me.
So in theory, if I start training now, even hunting a dragon should be possible.
“Ah, here he comes.”
As I was talking with Mariella, Cedric came running back with a teapot and macarons.
He really needed the exercise anyway.
“Brother. You didn’t dip your fingers into the tea or anything, right?”
“Hey, Celestia. No matter how much I hate you, I wouldn’t do something that creepy. I’m a noble.”
“That’s good. Mari has a sensitive palate—she’d notice immediately.”
I poured the tea and picked up a macaron.
Delicious, as always.
It’s hard to find sweets as good as macarons.
Chocolate is trending in the empire these days, but it’s not really my taste.
“Oh, right. Brother.”
“What?”
“We have lessons to do anyway, right? Father ordered it.”
“Ah, right.”
I handed Cedric a few macarons.
He looked at me suspiciously.
What, does he think they’re poisoned?
Even after watching me eat them…
“But you said you weren’t interested in magic.”
“Still, I’d like to decide what we do.”
“What are you planning? You’re not going to use me as a punching bag, are you…?”
“How cruel. Do I seem like that kind of person? I’m not someone who smashes heads using people as punching bags.”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason.”
I took a sip of tea to clear my throat before continuing.
And grabbed a few more macarons.
Still delicious.
“Let’s make this lesson practical. Sparring would be nice, but we should go outside the capital and hunt monsters.”
“…What?”
“Why? Don’t like it?”
“Are you insane? Going outside to hunt monsters? Even as an apprentice mage, that’s too dangerous!”
Cedric looked horrified.
Mariella also stared at me with wide eyes.
“Mari, why are you looking at me like that?”
“Celi. Do you know how dangerous it is outside the walls? You’re going without guards?”
“If I’m serious about hunting a dragon, I have to go that far.”
“You really should stop.”
“Don’t worry. You know I’m strong.”
Everyone worries too much.
Outside the walls, not only are there monsters, but rescue is unlikely, and there are bandits and outlaws.
That’s why people usually go with escorts.
Near the walls is safe, but beyond them lies a forest—and beyond that, complete lawlessness.
But the original protagonist lived in places like that before reaching the capital.
So people can survive there.
“You’d need at least an intermediate mage to go out in a small group. Apprentices aren’t recommended to leave.”
“That’s just because you’re weak.”
“No… being an apprentice at this age is already impressive…”
“I’m strong, so it’s fine.”
Yes.
I’m strong.
That was the truth.
◈◈◈
“What? You kids want to go outside the walls?”
With only a wooden sword given to me by Edn, we tried to leave the capital—but ran into our first obstacle.
The gate guards blocked us, glaring fiercely.
“Do something, brother.”
“Th-the guards are blocking us… do we really need to force our way through? Maybe we should go back…”
“I thought apprentice mages were impressive, but you’re just a coward.”
“…What?”
Cedric frowned, clearly irritated.
“Just watch,” he said, stepping forward.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Why would I know you, young lord?”
“Hey, don’t tease them too much. You’ll get punished.”
“Acting all nice now?”
“Don’t ignore me. Can you still say that after seeing this?”
Cedric pulled out a family crest medal I’d never even received and showed it.
The guards examined us carefully.
“Orange hair, fine clothes… the Fredericia family?”
“You finally recognize it. Now move aside.”
Cedric stepped forward arrogantly—
But the guards didn’t budge.
“First, we apologize for earlier. We didn’t realize you were nobles. However, that doesn’t mean you can leave.”
“What?”
“Due to recent monster incidents, leaving the capital requires a guardian’s permission. Minors are not allowed.”
The guards refused to open the gate.